JJ’88

California
JJ’88 is a singer, rapper, and songwriter raised in North Long Beach, and shaped by the streets, the church, and 18 years of incarceration he began as a child. His passion for music ignited in prison, where freestyle sessions became a lifeline.

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Thaisan Nguon

California
Thaisan and his family are survivors of the Cambodian genocide (1975-79) that saw over 3 million lives lost. He grew up in Long Beach, CA and is the second oldest of 10 siblings. He was serving Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) until his sentence was commuted in December 2018 and subsequently found suitable for parole in 2021.

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Page Dukes

Georgia
Page Dukes is a core organizer with liberatory memory and writing projects Mourning Our Losses and Georgia Freedom Letters, and Communications Associate at the Southern Center for Human Rights, where she raises awareness about the effects of incarceration and the need for agency and accuracy in conversations about people in prison.

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Kent Mendoza

California
Kent Mendoza was born in Mexico and came to the US at six years old. He grew up in Los Angeles where at an early age he was exposed to gangs, drugs, and violence. He joined a gang at 14 and was incarcerated at 15 and served time in a probation camp.

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NaJei “Jei Jei” Webster

Illinois
NaJei Webster is an advocate and mentor committed to supporting incarcerated women and youth. Through volunteerism, mentorship, and public education, she promotes self-advocacy, legislative awareness, and successful reentry for justice-impacted individuals.

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Nicole "Coco" Davis

Illinois
Nicole Davis is a social entrepreneur and community leader dedicated to empowering marginalized communities. As CEO of the Talk2Me Foundation and founder of The Sisters of Support House, she provides critical resources and advocacy for justice-impacted individuals and their families, using her lived experience to drive meaningful change.

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Dena Dickerson

Alabama
Dena Dickerson is a justice reform advocate and community leader based in Alabama. As Chief Operating Officer of the Offender Alumni Association and founder of initiatives like “Heroes in the Hood,” she develops programs that support community rebuilding and empower individuals impacted by systemic inequities.

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Autumn Mason

Minnesota
Autumn Mason is a Certified Doula and Peer Support Professional who advocates for families impacted by incarceration. Grounded in her own healing journey, she works at the intersection of reproductive justice, reentry, and policy change—educating and empowering communities while advancing systemic reform.

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Angelique Todd

Alabama
Angelique Todd is an award-winning filmmaker, survivor leader, and visionary social impact entrepreneur committed to transforming systems through storytelling, advocacy, and economic empowerment. She is the Founder and Executive Director of WE WIN Organization Inc. and CEO of Next Level Business Services & Solutions, where she leads initiatives that equip underserved communities—particularly justice-impacted women—with the tools to achieve sustainable economic mobility.

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Marci Marie Simmons

Texas
Marci Marie Simmons is a justice reform advocate, educator, and storyteller who centers the experiences of incarcerated women and gender-expansive people. Through her work, she raises awareness about gender-specific challenges in the criminal legal system while fostering healing, empowerment, and community support for those impacted by incarceration.

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Emmanuel “Noble” Williams

Massachusetts
Emmanuel “Noble” Williams is a restorative justice leader, educator, father, and activist with over a decade of experience advancing healing-centered practices. Through his work with the Transformational Prison Project and academic institutions, Noble fosters authenticity, vulnerability, and community-driven approaches to justice reform.

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John Medina Jr.

California
John Medina Jr. is a program manager and criminal justice reform advocate who transformed his life through education after a childhood shaped by adversity, bullying, and incarceration. Now holding a Master’s Degree in Social Work, he supports formerly homeless adults navigating complex behavioral health challenges, including co-occurring disorders, through systems navigation, practical, community-based support, and person-centered approaches that empower individuals to take action, build belief in their ability to transform, and move forward with purpose. His work is grounded in a vision of communities where people live with dignity and autonomy, have access to the resources they need, and are not defined by systems, diagnoses, or past experiences.

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Michelle West

California
During more than 30 years of incarceration, Michelle West never stopped organizing for her freedom with the #FREEMICHELLEWEST campaign. In January 2025, President Biden commuted Michelle's sentence, citing her overwhelming support from the civil rights community, women’s rights advocates and lawmakers. In the short time since her release, Michelle has been honored by the Black Music Action Coalition, advocated for federal prison reform on Capitol Hill, was a guest speaker at Kim Kardashian’s graduation, and served as a keynote speaker at JustUs Ideas Week.

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Eddie Ellis Jr.

Washington D.C.
Eddie B. Ellis Jr., a reentry advocate and consultant, founded One by 1, Inc. and leverages his experience as a formerly incarcerated person to build safer communities through training, mentorship, and support for reintegration, while also serving as the Co-Director of Outreach & Member Services at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.

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